Saturday, August 15, 2009

In August 2002, I was signed up for two three hour classes at Lee University with a declared major of Christian Education. It didn't take another full time semester to realize that, while I loved God and everything He stood for, I was looking for more than becoming an administrator at a Christian school. That was the semester I took my first history class and failed my first exam with Dr. Barnett. Within twenty minutes of seeing the "F", I was signed up as a history major. I know, the logic fails. Don't try to figure it out. I still can't.

In the winter of 2006 - 2007 I sat with Dr. Bob again and discussed what I was going to do with my history degree. He told me that he would love to see me teach and would be proud to have me teach his daughter. Well, I had worked as a substitute and as a teacher's aid as well as a safety officer for the Borough of Anchorage. I had even worked as an admin assistant for a Baptist Student Union and helped lead mission trips. I applied to the School of Education to even see if they might see in me what Dr. Bob seemed to see and they offered me the chance to get my M.A.T. Two weeks ago, I graduated and am getting ready to start teaching on Tuesday at the top Christian college preparatory school in the Tennessee Valley. I'm excited! I love kids and want to give them the best education I can possibly give them but still...

Somewhere something was nagging at me. Something that said, "There is more you need to do." There are some who would suggest I am 'slightly nuts' but I applied to the School of Education for their new Ed.S. program and received word today that I have officially been accepted to begin work on what will eventually, God willing, become my doctorate in education. Can I do this? I am reminded, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

My pastor has reminded me that, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill." (This is the same pastor who rode his new four-wheeler into the sanctuary the morning of his birthday to thank the church for the present.)

My new employer and the headmaster of the school has said he knows I will do well at this and it will serve as an extraordinary example to the students. (I wonder if he knows that one of the cleaning ladies at the school has already signed up to return to tech school classes after she and I talked.)

Whatever happens, I know this is not the path I would have chosen years ago. It has taken Someone far greater than me to get me to this place. Someone who has a great sense of humor and a plan for my life.

I promise to post some pictures of my classroom and office in the next few days.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Who ever thinks about the fact that teachers have to decorate their classrooms prior to the beginning or school? In my new surroundings, it also means I have an office to decorate. Somewhere here I have pictures of a desk buried in textbooks and I will get it posted as soon as I can get it downloaded.

Who wonders about the families of teachers? I always did until I was taken home one day in fifth grade by my fourth grade teacher. Daddy had had a heart attack that morning and Mrs. Olson took me home to stay with her for the entire week. We stayed after school every day to clean the chalkboard and I prided myself in earning my keep by beating erasers. Every afternoon when we left school, she would drive me the 81 miles to see Daddy and Mom. We would have dinner with Mom in Fallon and then Mrs. Olson would drive us 'home' to her house in the teacherage. There's probably a law against that sort of thing nowadays. Nonetheless, I want to be like Mrs. Olson as I teach. My crazy little family supports that idea and the small SUV I have been keeping an eye out for has become a three-seater Dodge Durango so I can not only get up the driveway but take entire classes on field trips to Chattanooga. (My classes are SO small.)

Chuck and Britt have also volunteered to spend a part of today helping me finish my classroom and office so I can spend time putting together my seven syllabi and finish lesson plans. I think Mrs. Olson would be proud of them. I know I am.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I could use the excuse that I have been busy. Then there is the old standby of figured no one cares so why bother. But the truth of the matter is that I simply have been setting aside my blogs for other pastures over at facebook and hadn't given this much thought until two different friends got me to thinking last night that I still have this and should be using it.

In the course of the last few months (OKAY!! Let's get honest here!) since April when I last posted I finished an internship teaching eighth grade students history and, just this past weekend, I graduated with my MA in teaching. I have also found a position teaching at a private school and classes start on the 18th of August. Today, I am going in to set up my classroom and office and my sweetheart is going to be running around getting the bookcases and file cabinet I want to complete the job.

Imagine, if you will, having an entire wall to use as a bulletin board. (Reminder to self: buy pushpins) I'm really looking forward to this adventure and promise to keep everyone updated.